The use of Auto-Tune enhancement in today’s pop music recordings is hardly new. Some recording artists benefit more than others from the technology.

And with last week’s leak of an unedited version of Britney Spears’ “Alien,” fans – and critics – of the pop star can get a sample of Auto-Tune’s true potential.

Compare the following two versions of the song, the first, the leaked song; and the second, the official music video.

The Huffington Post reported that the song’s producer, William Orbit, explained that the leaked recording is only a vocal warm-up session. He offered the following explanation on his Facebook page:

"I'd like to affirm that ANY singer when first at the mic at the start of a long session can make a multitude of vocalisations in order to get warmed up," Orbit wrote. "Warming up is essential if you’re a pro, as it is with a runner doing stretches, and it takes a while to do properly. I’ve heard all manner of sounds emitted during warm-ups. The point is that it is not supposed to be shared with millions of listeners."

He continued: "Whomever put this on the internet must have done so in a spirit of unkindness, but it can in no way detract from the fact that Britney is and always will be beyond Stellar! She is magnificent! And that’s that."